Urizun Japanese Winged Bean

An early maturing and
supremely delicious winged bean from
Japan. This highly adaptable winged bean
variety is not day length sensitive, making
it an excellent choice for a wide range of
growing areas. Winged beans are native
to Equatorial Asia. Baker Creek’s founder,
Jere Gettle, first encountered winged
beans on a trip to Thailand. Being a tropical
crop from the equator, the winged bean
typically takes a long season to flower,
only setting pods just before frost in our
Missouri climate. For years Jere searched
for a winged bean variety that will bear
pods earlier in order to enjoy a longer
harvest season. Urizun is just the variety
that Jere had been searching for; this
variety is not day length sensitive and will
begin to produce pods in August. Heavy
production continues until frost. Especially
popular on the island of Okinawa, Japan,
where this heat loving vegetable takes
center stage during the warm summer
months. Vines are lush and tropical
looking, with large, lavender flowers and
unique pods. The vines will readily climb a
trellis or fence, making this an exotic edible
ornamental. Traditionally blanched and stir
fried with ume (pickled Japanese plum),
we love to toss them into the wok with
just about anything; also great in soups or
steamed. Sliced beans resemble little stars;
fun way to introduce kids to this nutritious
Our Favorite, superb flavor! vegetable.

We had a very dry spring in the Texas Hill country 2018, yet these vines came on with what little rain we had and produced by late June through til frost. Lagged a little in July-Aug; but 4 seeds netted over 100 pods. Beautiful light blue flowers were a surprise.